Welcome to Medical News Today

Healthline Media, Inc. would like to process and share personal data (e.g., mobile ad id) and data about your use of our site (e.g., content interests) with our third party partners (see a current list) using cookies and similar automatic collection tools in order to a) personalize content and/or offers on our site or other sites, b) communicate with you upon request, and/or c) for additional reasons upon notice and, when applicable, with your consent.

Healthline Media, Inc. is based in and operates this site from the United States. Any data you provide will be primarily stored and processed in the United States, pursuant to the laws of the United States, which may provide lesser privacy protections than European Economic Area countries.

By clicking “accept” below, you acknowledge and grant your consent for these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.

Please accept our privacy terms

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, personalize content and offers, show targeted ads, analyze traffic, and better understand you. We may share your information with third-party partners for marketing purposes. To learn more and make choices about data use, visit our Advertising Policy and Privacy Policy. By clicking “Accept and Continue” below, (1) you consent to these activities unless and until you withdraw your consent using our rights request form, and (2) you consent to allow your data to be transferred, processed, and stored in the United States.

Register for a free account

Study Suggests High-Dose Fish Oil May Significantly Improve Behavior In Children With ADHD

Published
Wednesday 8 August 2007 Published Wed 8 Aug 2007

Adapted Media Release

The results of a pilot study
published in the Nutrition Journal (http://www.nutritionj.com) suggest that
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can benefit
from daily supplementation of high levels of purified fish oils. The
eight-week study demonstrated that children who consumed between 8 and 16
grams per day of EPA and DHA (the long chain omega-3 fatty acids found in
fish oil) showed significant improvements in their behavior rated by both
their parents and the psychiatrist working with them.

The study monitored the ratio of two fatty acids in the blood:
arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). It has been known
from previous studies that children with ADHD have a high AA/EPA ratio in
the blood compared to control children. The amount of purified fish oil for
each child was adjusted until his or her AA/EPA ratio reached ideal levels.

The study found a statistically significant improvement in inattention,
hyperactivity, oppositional/defiant behavior and conduct disorders as the
AA/EPA ratio in the blood was lowered. The findings were true for children
taking their optimal dosage of drugs to manage their ADHD as well for the
children who had voluntarily stopped taking their drugs during the study.

"This is an important study as it indicates when adequate levels of
fish oil are added to the diet, significant behavioral changes can occur.
This study also indicates that the growing epidemic of ADHD may have a
strong nutritional component-the lack of sufficient intake of omega-3 fatty
acids, such as EPA and DHA," said Dr. Barry Sears, one of the co-authors of
the study. "Equally important is that supplementation with high-dose fish
oil is synergistic with existing drugs, giving both the physician and
parent new dietary approaches toward correcting this growing epidemic in
our children."

About ADHD

ADHD is a neurological condition characterized by the inability to
concentrate in a sustained manner, to pay attention to tasks, and to
control impulsive actions. It is estimated that 3 to 7 percent of children
have this disorder. For 60-80 percent of children with ADHD, the condition
continues into adulthood.

2018 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.